Saturday, November 19, 2011

IDF enrollment drops, enthusiasm for combat roles is up


Military Personnel Directorate report shows that by 2020 only 40% of 18-year-olds will enlist • Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai says length of soldiers' service should be dictated by their position and not their gender.

Lilach Shoval Only one in two 18-year-olds are enlisting for compulsory military service, and that number is falling, according to a report by the Israeli Defense Forces released on Thursday. The report, by the Military Personnel Directorate, found that if the current rate holds, by 2020 only 40 percent of Israelis will enlist.

At the same time, however, the report found that demand to serve in combat units was rising.

According to the report, one in four young Israeli men do not enlist for compulsory military service, 13% of them citing religious reasons. Among Israeli women, 40.9% do not enlist, 35% of them for religious reasons.

Among this month’s group of recruits, 76.2% of those who are fit for field service said they wish to serve in a combat unit. This is an increase of 2% over last year.

As reported by Israel Hayom two weeks ago, the IDF decided to trim the ranks of its career soldiers – those who continue to serve after completing their compulsory service – by 5%. The decision is part of the IDF's initiative to trim costs and perform more efficiently. In announcing its decision, the IDF clarified that career soldiers who are currently serving will not see any of their benefits affected. Military Personnel Directorate Chief Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai is also formulating a plan that will have male and female soldiers serve the same amount of time in certain positions.

Current rules dictate that men perform three years of compulsory service, and women serve two years. According to Barbivai's plan, however, if a male soldier serves as a secretary, he will serve the same amount of time as a female soldier performing the same role. Similarly, women in combat roles would serve the same three years as their male counterparts. "Military service will be dictated according to position and not by gender," she said on Wednesday at the directorate headquarters.

According to Thursday's report, the city of Modiin Maccabim-Reut has the best track record for its rates of enlistment, service in combat units, and advancement to officer positions. Tel Aviv was ranked only 52nd on the list, and the religious city of Bnei Brak trailed at the bottom, with only 12.6% of eligible Bnei Brak residents joining the IDF.

The northern city of Kirat Motzkin surged this year, moving up 19 spots, while Tirat Hacarmel dropped 16 spots in the list.

Residents from Judea and Samaria have the highest rates of service in combat units – 61%, compared to 36% in Gush Dan and 43% in central Israel generally.


The IDF is also leading moves to raise salaries for soldiers in compulsory service. According to a senior officer in the Military Personnel Directorate, the goal is to have conscripted soldiers earn at least the same salaries as those performing national rather than military service.

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